Friday Highlights 1.12.24

January is:

School Board Member Appreciation Month
National Mentoring Month
National World Health Esteem Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Blood Donor Month

Important Dates: 

January 15:    Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (Schools/Offices Closed)
January 16:    Parent/Community Engagement Session - MLK Leadership/Language Academy (6:00 p.m.)
January 25:    School Board Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
January 29:    Superintendent's Citation Program (5:30 p.m.)

Schools and Offices to Close for
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

The Little Rock School District will observe the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 15, 2024. All schools and District offices will be closed.

Help Us #ReimageLRSD Your Voice Matters!!!

Share Your Voice During Upcoming Strategic Planning Sessions Click the link to see a close-up of the flyer for community conversations.

Keathley Patterson Electric and Metropolitan Career-Technical Center Launch Student Career Pathway

The Little Rock School District celebrated the launch of a new manufacturing career pathway for high school students at the Metro Career Tech Center. The partnership with Keathley Patterson Electric will contribute to the success of the program and help spread awareness about the importance of fostering the aspirations of the next generation of manufacturing professionals. Those in attendance were able to preview career pathways, see student demos and the manufacturing lab, and explore ways to support youth.

An Electric Fleet Coming to LRSD

This is exciting news! Check out how much funding LRSD will receive to transition its buses that serve students with special needs to an all-electric fleet - in the news story below!

https://katv.com/.../little-rock-school-district-receives...

Don't Forget to Check Our 
New Website!

The Little Rock School District has officially launched our exciting, new, user-friendly Thrillshare website powered by Apptegy. In addition to the sleek, streamlined look and ease of access to information, the site will provide one-stop shopping for news, social media, calendars, and more. As with any transition, there may be a few bugs. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with the platform and provide feedback in the form below. Thank you in advance for your patience and helping us serve you better! https://lrsd.jotform.com/240024220499045

And, While You're At It, Download the New App

Little Rock Central Tigers Win Big
in Tampa Tournament

Little Rock Central's basketball team traveled to Tampa, Florida, to compete in the SLAM! Tampa Hoopfest this past week. After a hard-fought battle to the finish, the team won the championship with a 66-37 victory over FACS! Caleb Blair and Annor Boateng were the lead scorers in the game. Your LRSD family is proud of you! Congratulations!

Mark Your Calendars!
Join Us for 2024 Districtwide EAST Night Out

Save the date! Join us at the 2024 District-Wide EAST Night Out. You will be able to see all of the amazing projects that Little Rock School District EAST students have created to make a difference in their schools and in their community. The event will be held on January 30th from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Southwest High School Cafeteria. The students are eager to tell you about their progress!

LRSD's Youngest Students Learn about Agriculture from the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Students at Chicot Elementary and Early Childhood Center were able to learn about hydroponics from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture during garden class. Thank you for investing in our students!

Support Little Rock School District Students and Families by Getting a Smoothie!

Check out this fundraiser to help erase school lunch debt! Please see the information in the flyer above. Thanks, Smoothie King, for supporting our students and families.

Principal Pool Application Process Now Open

Click on this link to read the flyer and get information on applying.

Serving the Community! The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Hosts the 2024 MLK Challenge

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is inviting the community for a day of service that is designed to engage students ages 12 to 18. The challenge consists of a full day of service projects that will challenge them mentally and socially. Something to note is that some service sites may require physical or outdoor labor, and participants will likely get dirty. Participants are advised to wear casual and comfortable clothes. To register your student, click here!

The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Invites You to the 2024 MLK Birthday Bash and Fireworks Extravaganza

The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is inviting the community to attend a fireworks show in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will feature an opportunity for the community to reflect and come together to celebrate Dr. King's legacy. 

The event starts at 6 p.m. at North Shore Riverwalk Park. 

Celebrate All Things Outdoors at the 34th Annual Arkansas Big Buck Classic

Make plans to attend the 34th Annual Big Buck Classic this month! It's a three-day festival dedicated to those who love the outdoors, especially deer hunting. Merchandise vendors will sell outdoor and hunting products, outfitters, boats, tree stands, hunting blinds, ATVs, and more. There will also be attractions, including rattlesnake wranglers, chainsaw carving, knife forgers, and kids activities. But the highlight of the festival will be the exhibition of deer antlers from around Arkansas. You can also enter in for over $100,000 in prizes. The Big Buck Classic will be held at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds from January 26-28. Adult tickets are $15 each, kids aged 5-12 are $5, and kids under 5 are free. Parking is included in your ticket price.

Jazz Night with an R&B Flavor to be Held in Little Rock This Month

Calling All Hoop Lovers! 
The Harlem Globetrotters are Coming to Simmons Bank Arena in February

Don't miss your chance to be a part of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters global tour as they take the court with moments of extreme basketball innovation and fun! The basketball stars will be performing at Simmons Bank Arena in February. You'll be amazed by new levels of trick shots, expert ball-handling skills, and big laughs. Buy your tickets here!

Tina Fey's "Mean Girls" to be Performed
at the Robinson Center

Direct from Broadway, "Mean Girls," the hilarious hit musical, is coming to Little Rock this February. Cady Heron falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Tickets to the show are available through Celebrity Attractions and Ticketmaster. The show runs at the Robinson Center starting February 2 through February 4.

Do You Have an Event/Information You Would Like Featured in Our Blog?

Fill out this media request form: https://lrsd.jotform.com/201056269402044?

Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday at noon.

Friday Highlights 1.5.24

 

January is:

National School Board Member Appreciation Month
National World Health Esteem Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Blood Donor Month

Important Dates: 

January 8:      Personnel Policy Committee Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
January 9:      LR PTA Council Meeting (11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
January 10:    Parent/Community Engagement Session - MLK Leadership/Language Academy (6:00 p.m.)
January 11:    School Board Work Session (5:30 p.m.)
January 15:    Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (Schools/Offices Closed)
January 16:    Parent/Community Engagement Session - MLK Leadership/Language Academy (6:00 p.m.)
January 25:    School Board Meeting (5:30 p.m.)
January 29:    Superintendent's Citation Program (5:30 p.m.)

Happy New Year to Our LRSD Family!

Apply Now to Participate on an #OptimizingLRSD Task Force

On December 15, 2023, the LRSD Board of Education approved the creation of three task forces, which were among several #OptimizingLRSD Phase 1 Recommendations. We are looking for employees, parents, and members of the LRSD community interested in serving on any of the three task forces. Each task force will meet at least once per month (virtually and/or in-person) and will work to present final recommendations to the LRSD administration by May 1, 2024. To learn about the three task forces or if you are interested in joining, click here. The deadline for submitting your form is January 9, 2024.

LRSD Recognizes School Board Members for School Board Appreciation Month

January is School Board Appreciation Month. We want to give a special shout-out to our Little Rock School District Board Members who serve our district faithfully. Thank you for all you do for our students, parents, and staff!

 New and Exciting LRSD Website
Launched This Week

The Little Rock School District has officially launched our exciting, new, user-friendly Thrillshare website powered by Apptegy. In addition to the sleek, streamlined look and ease of access to information, the site will provide one-stop shopping for news, social media, calendars, and more. As with any transition, there may be a few bugs. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourselves with the platform and provide feedback in the form below. Thank you in advance for your patience and helping us serve you better! https://lrsd.jotform.com/240024220499045

Don't Forget to Download the New App

 Little Rock Central SECME Engineering Team Places First in Dallas Competition

Please join us in congratulating the Little Rock Central High School SECME Engineering team for winning first place in the Dallas Regional - Prusa BEST Robotics Challenge! They designed, printed, and tested a 3-D artificial heart during the competitions.

Mark Your Calendars!
Join Us for 2024 District Wide EAST Night Out

Save the date! Join us at the 2024 District-Wide EAST Night Out. You will be able to see all of the amazing projects that Little Rock School District EAST students have created to make a difference in their schools and in their community. The event will be held on January 30th from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Southwest High School Cafeteria. The students are eager to tell you about their progress!

We Know the Holidays Are Over... Sharing This Just Because it's Cute!

Featuring Mr. Ronald Chargois as the "Grinch"

Who wore it better? 

Principal Pool Application Process Now Open

Click on this link to read the flyer and get information on applying.

 Last Weekend to GloWild at the 
Little Rock Zoo!

It's the last weekend to attend the GloWild Lantern Festival at the Little Rock Zoo. There, you can walk through three different spaces that will showcase animals in a new light. The first section will be filled with mystical creatures. The second will feature insects, and the third will include jungle animals that can be found across the globe. The event will run from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. through January 7th. Tickets for the general public are $20 and can be purchased at the gate. Parking is free!

Made in Arkansas Film Festival Presents "Reel Reality: A Night of Documentary Shorts"

Join the Made in Arkansas Film Festival for an evening of documentary shorts! The monthly night of screenings will be held in the CALS Ron Robinson Theater on January 11th. Some of the films that will be included in the screenings are "To The Bone," "I Remember," and "Arkansas High Country." Doors open at 6 p.m., and films will start promptly at 7 p.m. Concessions will be available. 

For tickets, click here.

Serving the Community! The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center Hosts the 2024 MLK Challenge

The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is inviting the community for a day of service that is designed to engage students ages 12 to 18. The challenge consists of a full day of service projects that will challenge them mentally and socially. Something to note is that some service sites may require physical or outdoor labor, and participants will likely get dirty. Participants are advised to wear casual and comfortable clothes. To register your student, click here!

The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission Invites You to the 2024 MLK Birthday Bash and Fireworks Extravaganza

The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is inviting the community to attend a fireworks show in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will feature an opportunity for the community to reflect and come together to celebrate Dr. King's legacy. 

The event starts at 6 p.m. at North Shore Riverwalk Park. 

Celebrate All Things Outdoors at the 34th Annual Arkansas Big Buck Classic

Make plans to attend the 34th Annual Big Buck Classic this month! It's a three-day festival dedicated to those who love the outdoors, especially deer hunting. There will be merchandise vendors selling outdoor and hunting products, outfitters, boats, tree stands, hunting blinds, ATVs and more. There will also be attractions, including rattlesnake wranglers, chainsaw carving, knife forgers, and kids activities. However, the highlight of the festival will be the exhibition of deer antlers from around Arkansas. You can also enter in for over $100,000 in prizes. The Big Buck Classic will be held at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds from January 26-28. Adult tickets are $15 a piece, kids aged 5-12 are $5, and kids under 5 are free. Parking is included in your ticket price.

Jazz Night with an R&B Flavor to be Held in Little Rock This Month

Do You Have an Event/Information You Would Like Featured in Our Blog?

Fill out this media request form: https://lrsd.jotform.com/201056269402044?

Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday at noon.

Friday Highlights 12.15.23

 

December is:

Learn a Foreign Language Month
National Human Rights Month
Spiritual Literacy Month

Important Dates: 

December 18:   Winter Break Begins
December 25:   Christmas Day
December 26:   Kwanzaa Begins
December 30:   New Year's Eve
January 1:        New Year's Day
January 2:        Offices Open
January 3:        Classes Resume

Happy Holidays From Your #LRSD Family

Schools and Offices to Close For Winter Break

We hope you have a relaxing time!

LRSD Recognizes Grandparents and Guardians During This Year's Luncheon

This week, several of our LRSD grandparents and guardians gathered for our annual luncheon. Those who attended enjoyed a delicious lunch, entertainment from our students, and chances to win prizes. We are so appreciative of all of our grandparents and all they do for our students. Thank you!

LRSD Continues the Transition To Our New App

The Little Rock School District is thrilled to continue to transition to our new app, and introduce our new user-friendly website powered by Apptegy after Winter Break! Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news from administrators, and more. Download Now!

Android https://bit.ly/3KocYoe

iPhone https://apple.co/3rZpxzW

LRSD Students Benefit from Local Business Partnerships Supporting the "Gift a Child" Project

More than 100 students participating in the Tendaji Program IMPACT, many of whom are in the Little Rock School District, will have a happy holiday thanks to the collective efforts of program organizers and other local partners. Students received clothing and wish list items during the annual "Gift a Child" initiative. Each year, Tendaji Program IMPACT sponsors up to 150 students and families for Christmas. Eighty-five to 90% of the students who benefit from this generosity attend 12 area elementary schools.

Jingle Bell Success

Students Wrap Up Two Weeks of Performances at the District Admin Building!

We had a great two weeks at the Little Rock School District Administration Building with several outstanding student performances! Thank you to our talented students, dedicated teachers, and supportive parents for making it a celebration filled with creativity, passion, and applause-worthy moments.

Congrats to LRSD Winners in Holiday Coloring Contest

As reflected above, several LRSD students in the Little Rock School District were selected as winners in different categories of the annual Gingerbread Extravaganza, held this past weekend at the state capitol rotunda. Great job by all of our students!

That's A Wrap! Gifts Given During the Holiday Drive Picked Up at LRSD

In the true spirit of the Holiday Season, the Little Rock School District partnered with KARK/Fox 16 for Santa's Holiday Gift Drive! Several people brought new and unwrapped gift donations through to the District's Administration Building to give to families needing extra help this holiday season.  We appreciate your participation in this year's Holiday Gift Drive!

Investing In Our Kids! Entergy Arkansas and the IAFF Hand Out Hundreds of Coats to Students

Entergy Arkansas and the Little Rock International Association of Fire Fighters Local 34 partnered again this year for “Operation Warm,” donating coats to hundreds of Little Rock School District students just before winter break begins. With the support of a $10,000 grant, firefighters purchased 800 new coats for children at Brady and Mabelvale Elementary Schools. The IAFF Union 34 began working with the national nonprofit several years ago after seeing young children shivering at a school bus stop near their firehouse. Operation Warm is a national nonprofit that manufactures high-quality coats and shoes for children in need.

Principal Pool Application Process Now Open

Click on this link to read the flyer and get information on applying.

Holiday Music Featuring the 

Famed "Art Porter Singers"

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Presents Home For The Holidays

The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra invites everyone to the Robinson Center for a fun-packed holiday music extravaganza! Kids and adults of all ages should wear a holiday sweater, grab their favorite holiday candy, and settle in to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!

The Nutcracker! A Magical Christmas Ballet to be performed at the Robinson Center

Gather your loved ones for the warm glow and nostalgia of America’s favorite Christmas celebration, NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet! Be transported by the magic of jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger-than-life puppets, and stunning hand-crafted sets and costumes. Experience the extraordinary international cast and Ukrainian Principal Artists on December 31 at 5 p.m. Get tickets here.

Tis The Season to be Tacky!
Join In On This Year's Ugly Sweater Race

Dig out that ugly holiday sweater and celebrate the best of the season with a healthy dose of physical fitness! The run, which benefits Little Rock Parks & Recreation, will occur on December 16th at 8:45 a.m. It starts with an Elf Dash for kids and is followed by the 5K. For more information on how to register, click here. 

GloWild at the Little Rock Zoo!

The GloWild Lantern Festival has returned to the Little Rock Zoo this Holiday Season. There, you can walk through three different spaces that will showcase animals in a new light. The first section will be filled with mystical creatures. The second will feature insects, and the third will include jungle animals that can be found across the globe. The event will run from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. through January 7th. Tickets for the general public are $20 and can be purchased at the gate. Parking is free!

City of Little Rock Provides Residents a Free Estate Planning Tool

The City of Little Rock, in partnership with EMLI, is offering residents free access for one year to online financial tools related to legacy financial matters like wills, trusts, and estates. The online platform guides users through creating and updating wills and revocable trusts, establishing powers of attorney, crafting living wills, appointing executors, and much more. The platform also contains an informational component that provides insights, quizzes, and videos about estate planning and concepts for building a financial legacy and securing generational wealth. Residents can sign up at MyLegacyItems.com. The deadline to sign up is 12/31/2023.

Jazz Night to be Held in Little Rock Next Month

Do You Have an Event/Information You Would Like Featured in Our Blog?

Fill out this media request form: https://lrsd.jotform.com/201056269402044?

Remember, the deadline for each week's submissions is Thursday at noon.